Bill Passage Defeats PA Sales Tax

HARRISBURG, PA — The Pennsylvania House passed a bill in mid-June that won't increase or expand the state's sales and use tax, which would have added a 6 percent sales tax on health and athletic club services.

A second bill had proposed a sales tax on health and athletic club services. However, as part of a campaign to defeat the proposed sales tax, more than 700 constituents and small business owners from across the state wrote to their representatives asking them to defeat the tax.

The International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) opposed the proposed sales tax, likening it to a penalty on healthy behavior.

“We encouraged state legislators to send the right message to their constituents — to encourage them to make physical activity a part of their lives,” said Helen Durkin, IHRSA's director of public policy.

The bill that passed the House does not impose taxes on club services. It had previously passed the Senate and awaits the governor's signature to become law.